Devlin Medical

Devlin have operated in the field of mobile point-of-care computing since 2004. The launch of the Devlin Medical division in 2008 has seen Devlin realise dramatic growth in the healthcare market. Devlin Medical is now a leading supplier of Computers on Wheels (COWs) in the UK and has a distributor network covering most of Western Europe. The key to Devlin’s success is the ability to provide modular systems tailored to specific users needs – delivering real and measurable benefits, these include; improving clinical efficiency, improving patient transit, increasing patient safety and expanding information availability.

Devlin Medical believes that mobile computing can play a key role in making efficiency savings achievable; while improving the quality of patient care. Martin Baker, Devlin Medical, Managing Director makes the observation that “in every Trust we have worked with we see that mobile computing helps to empower clinicians through ease of data access. We believe that mobile point-of-care computing can play a dramatic and key role in the NHS drive for efficiency savings.”

Reclaiming Lost Time

As every clinicians knows of the most precious commodities they have is time – mobile computing can help to maximise clinicians time. Clinicians are empowered to spend more time with patients and less time chasing paper trails or completing administrative tasks which could be automated.

An excellent example of achievable time savings comes from work Devlin have done with Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, Dr Caroline Skene is an enthusiastic advocate of mobile computing – “It speeds up our ward rounds tremendously. Previously for example on a round if laboratory results hadn’t got back into the patient notes, I’d be rushing back to the nurses station, logging into the system to retrieve them and then rushing back to the patients bedside. Now that we’re using COWs I can bring up; test results, x-rays and entire patient histories instantly at the bedside – there are massive time savings and it’s very thorough too.”

Improving Patient Transit

Another key hospital asset is bed space – a vital commodity that must be carefully managed to the benefit of patients. The use of mobile computing can help to speed patient transit. Clinicians are able to authorise; transfers and discharges instantly at the bedside with this information being immediately processed, mobile computing removes the “paperwork lag”.

This was one of the key objectives for The Leicestershire County and Rutland Community Health Service as they deployed Devlin Medical computers on wheels for use in all day-case operations across their five sites. Maggie Roberts ORMIS (Operation Room Information System) Business Lead explains the difference Devlin COWs have made – “We made the decision to go “paper-free” and to involve mobile computing as part of that project. Our aim was to improve the efficiency of our patient care along with the quality and safety of our service. We want every patient going through day surgery to have a smooth and problem free experience. The introduction of mobile ORMIS means we are able to transfer information and arrange discharge much faster than before. As soon as a patient is ready for discharge the documentation can be completed at their bedside without delays. Our use of COWs means we are better equipped than ever to provide excellent patient care.”

Increase Technology Resources

Mobile computing can reduce the amount of time staff wait to access information at computers in nurses’ stations. This competition for resources can be extremely counter-productive and inevitably leads to delays and inefficiencies. The approach Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has taken enables instant access to clinical systems at the patient bedside.

Sr Sheena Keates explains that, “The Critical Care Unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital needed computers on wheels which were both portable and stable as well as being safe to use in a clinical environment. There is also a focus on infection prevention and control; the carts are easy to clean. The carts provide an effective means to access our clinical systems and helps us to work efficiently providing a high standard of patient care.”

Conclusions

Devlin Medical continues to supply mobile point-of-care computing carts that dramatically improve efficiency. Devlin have a great understanding of the challenges faced by clinicians – the pressure to provide high standards of patient care whilst improving operating efficiencies. Devlin believe that computers on wheels can be integrated by any user in any discipline to help meet the demands of a modern health service.
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